True Natural Enemy (1)

Puk—!

[Lava Giant Koi: Lv.420]

As tricky as its patterns were to handle, its main body had to be weak by necessity. If it thrashed around like that and had high vitality, it wouldn't qualify as a mere Lv.420 monster anymore.

So.

Puk—! Puk—!

Stone Spear. Even basic stone spears were landing solid hits.

It must not have expected the lava to split open like that. Dozens of stone spears were embedded in the giant koi's side, its tail flailing wildly. For a brief moment, its movements were restricted.

Harcon and the Lionheart Knights wouldn't miss that opening.

...That's not a skill.

Why did I think that? Simple. I could tell at a glance.

How strong is he, exactly?

His lofty realm.

Innate magical talent allowed him to mimic most spells just by seeing them. And on top of that, physical potential rivaling it.

...Even thinking about it now, he had all the good stuff piled on. By design, Grandfell possessed martial prowess equal to his magical talent.

He could even gauge Harcon's realm, the one making his sword shine.

It's definitely different from mana.

But unlike magic, I couldn't even fathom it...

Where would I even start to reach that level? I had no clue.

Of course.

"A modicum of interest stirs within Us."

I opened my mouth arrogantly, but still—good was good. Better baseless confidence overflowing than pessimistic defeatism.

Of course, if I aimed for Harcon's sword-glowing realm...

My body would never be free of fatigue.

"Everyone, stay sharp! This is our chance!!"

"Secure that kill contribution, whatever it takes!"

"Rush through the split lava fi—whaaat?!"

The other players didn't even get a chance to spoon in.

Clang—

Harcon sheathed his sword.

And with that, the battle was over.

Thud—!

The giant koi's head hit the ground.

Just like that. Done.

At the same moment, a message appeared in my vision.

...A ten-level jump. From 166 to 176.

Not bad EXP.

This was unexpected. Since I'd partied with the Lionheart Knights, I needed kill contribution for EXP too.

Separate from the lava, the giant koi itself wasn't that tough. Apparently, I'd earned significant contribution there.

...Not significant—over half? I checked my inventory right away.

The island's treasure asserted its presence.

Whoa. Another crafting material after the emerald crystal.

But this wasn't something to complain about...!

Three guaranteed effects?

Pure emerald crystals only revealed effects post-crafting, varying by the crafter's skill.

This silk had no such caveats.

Even ignoring the others, a new stat unlock.

Aesthetics...

Never heard of it, no idea what it did, but it felt good. Demon hunter had zero unique stats.

Anything new was a welcome addition.

Worth its weight in gems, indeed.

"Exquisite."

Above all, flawless even by Grandfell's aesthetic eye. The ultimate quality guarantee.

That was as far as my thoughts went.

"...Wait, the island's treasure?"

Someone muttered it. Probably because no message popped despite the named monster falling.

If asked properly, politely, with decorum?

Answering wouldn't be hard.

But...

...Why were their stares at me turning even more unsettling?

Like eyeballs rolling—glancing between the message window and me.

But I wasn't leisurely enough to care why.

Burned white.

Mana exhaustion. Mana depletion loomed.

...Strength drained from my whole body.

Fortunately, with the giant koi down, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the eruption stopped, lava cooling fast.

No need to maintain magic anymore.

Soon, Harcon approached me.

"A magic beyond admiration, Grand Duke Hoyeol!"

His words made me flinch twice.

I'm the one admiring you? Once for his humility.

No, more importantly—everyone can hear! What?!

...Grand Duke Hoyeol? That embarrassing title hit again.

In that split second, I flinched again—but no sign showed.

I replied without changing expression.

"Thy swordsmanship was exemplary as well, Grand Duke Harcon."

Good thing—no one mocked me for it.

Makes sense. I said it: my method acting fools even me sometimes.

"...No way."

"Never seen Harcon so deferential."

"That haughty tone... Does he outrank Harcon...?"

Part of me wanted to correct them. No title, zilch. And that haughty tone? My utmost politeness.

But I couldn't.

"!"

A message appeared before my eyes.

Collapse progress up.

Naturally, not just for me. Players buzzed.

"Kinda late message, huh..."

"Wait, the numbers don't add up from the start."

"Maybe another island treasure hidden somewhere?!"

Other players might panic.

Not me.

My treasure didn't affect progress.

To me—Grandfell—greed didn't exist.

So why the message?

I could guess.

Someone else's treasure. Stained with greed again.

*

Supernova. Park Hyunjun kept biting his nails. His body soaked in cold sweat.

-Really? Last chance. No ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠more after this?

-Just gonna watch?

-You want the treasure, right? Coward.

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠voice echoed. But no earbuds.

Hallucination? Suspicion natural, but Park Hyunjun lacked the mind for it.

"Shut up. I'll handle it..."

He scanned the battlefield. Spotted Hoyeol.

Fled but kept minimal guild loyalty? Kinber was right.

If he'd touched Hoyeol blindly...

"I don't wanna die yet."

Life over.

Now, crystal clear.

Splitting lava, dozens of stone spears. Beside him, one of Arcana's top NPC groups: Lionheart Knights.

Even if Kinber stayed, charging Hoyeol was suicide.

This way, Hoyeol gets the treasure—obvious.

"Fuck. Won't budge."

But empty-handed...

"...I'm done."

Can't go back.

Needed that treasure.

The hallucination whispered again.

-Then steal it?

-What's wrong with desire?

-No need to care. Just take.

No need to care.

Park Hyunjun's eyes flashed.

"...Yeah!"

Hoyeol impossible? Kill someone else, steal theirs.

He knew the easiest prey among treasure holders.

"Explorer Alliance bastards...!"

Explorer Alliance. One NPC group in Yusra.

As name implied: explorers. Combat weak.

Shown when they got treasure—no fight.

They acquired it without battle.

Explorer class way.

His eyes darkened.

Screw methods.

They have the treasure.

Park Hyunjun donned earbuds.

"I'm hunting Explorer Alliance."

-...Who? You crazy? Touching NPCs?

-Haha. Kinber, you both lost it!

-For real? Player vs. NPC different.

Worse: whole Alliance as enemy.

Their Arcana influence? Irrational.

But he did it.

"I take responsibility. Just watch."

His pupils already pitch black.

Now.

Park Hyunjun eyed the sprawled corpse.

"Fuck."

Explorer Alliance NPC killed. Same as players.

Begged for life—still killed.

Now regret killing? Park Hyunjun wasn't soft.

Too many players—people—dead by his hand.

But his body trembled.

"...Fuck!"

Treasure acquired. Message confirmed.

Yet boiling desire wouldn't stop.

Chest tight.

"Fuck. Fuck."

Park Hyunjun tore at his clothes like a madman.

"Ughhh!!"

Clawed his suffocating chest wildly.

Screams drew a crowd.

"Adventurer? What was that just—?"

"U, aaah! Julie? Snap out of it! Julie!!"

"You... you killed Julie!!"

Explorer Alliance interrogating.

Park Hyunjun puzzled.

...Why am I doing this?

Kill and run. Why claw here?

Thought didn't last.

"Can't take it. Fuuuck!"

Suffocating to death. Nails no relief.

Status: Greed. Judgment clouded, no hesitation.

Puk—

Dagger slashed his tight chest.

Fading consciousness. Voice came.

-Excellent.

-But your death isn't noble sacrifice—self-inflicted by greed-blinded fool.

-Sadly, nothing for you.

-Not a speck of dust.

"...!!"

Till the end. Demon's deceiving voice.

.

.

.

Progress shot up before we could react.

Then the message.

Rumble—!

Shaking vision. Scale beyond giant turtle or eruption.

Yusra itself—every island quaking.

"So it collapsed after all, whatever it was?"

"Yeah, ending like this after all that buildup? Too cheap!"

"Great evil screams demon. Quick-swap gear, guys."

Top players prepared for worst.

Misjudgment.

I knew.

Current players can't handle it.

Harcon backed me. His eyes different.

"This aura... demonic."

Lv.600. One-shot Lv.400+ named. Yet tense.

Why great evil called that. Fitting entrance.

Yusra Archipelago.

Ten islands merged as one.

Hidden rifts meshed, collapsed.

True form revealed.

A colossal golden palace. Greed incarnate.

Demon hunter instinct.

Greed-built palace. Great evil—Seven Deadly Sins Greed—lurking inside.

That instant, quest blinked.

Instinct to certainty.

I spoke unwittingly.

"We have awaited this."

...No, I hadn't.

Wanted quiet end...!

My state was awful anyway.

"Vile demon who calls thyself great evil."

Biggest issue: mana exhaustion. Zero mana now—great evil or incarnation, impossible...

?

What? No mana exhaustion helplessness...

Far from it—vitality surged.

!

Finally remembered.

No demon temptation, deceit, trial can scratch Grandfell's lofty pride.

Demon hunter vs. demon. Natural enemy.

Transcending: Grandfell vs. demons.

Perhaps the true threat demons fear isn't Grandfell's class—but Grandfell himself.

Smooth clothes. Adjust brooch.

Straight posture, as ever.

"Thy time in hell hath come."